"Gay Marriage Losing Punch as Ballot Issue":This article will appear Saturday in The New York Times.Posted at 11:05 PM by Howard Bashman"The fact remains that this case presents a straightforward and unremarkable legal question: Did Robert Jordan state a Title VII claim against his employer for retaliation against him for complaining about a coworker's single isolated racist remark made not to Jordan himself, but to a television set?" By a vote of 5-5, today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit entered an order denying rehearing en banc in the case of Jordan v. Alternative Resources Corp. The quote that leads off this post comes from the opinion of Circuit Judge Paul V. Niemeyer concurring in the denial of rehearing en banc.

The review begins, "This fall, the Supreme Court enters a new era. No more will William Rehnquist stare coldly down at lawyers from the center chair. Instead, John Roberts will amiably but firmly interrogate them. And no more will Sandra Day O'Connor, sitting next to the Chief Justice, crisply ask her probing questions. Instead, Samuel Alito will politely address his from the far right end of the bench."Posted at 09:22 AM by Howard Bashman

"Taking sides can be risky business; Stores might turn off potential customers": The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota today contains an article that begins, "Jim Fischer cares enough about the state's ban on nearly all abortions to stake the livelihood of his business on it."Posted at 08:35 AM by Howard Bashman"Area law firms reach for a star; After the Enron courtroom victory, the U.S. lead prosecutor, Sean Berkowitz, finds himself again spotlighted--this time by recruiters":This article appears today in The Chicago Tribune.Posted at 08:27 AM by Howard Bashman"Animal rights group loses lawsuit appeal; Free speech doesn't apply to illegal conduct, court says": Bob Egelko has this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

"Same-sex marriage back before voters, but mood different; Support for constitutional bans weaker than in 2004; activists seek reversals":This article appears today in USA Today.Posted at 07:35 AM by Howard Bashman"Web page may jeopardize cases": The Wichita Falls (Tex.) Times Record News today contains an article that begins, "Pending criminal cases might be jeopardized after city officials and the Wichita Falls Police Department learned of a graphic MySpace.com Web page operated by Officer Jeremiah Love. They placed him on suspension Tuesday."

"The California Court of Appeal's Same-Sex Marriage Decision: Not the Last Word on the Matter, But Still Revealing In Many Ways." Vikram David Amar has this essay online at FindLaw.Posted at 06:40 AM by Howard Bashman